The relentless advance of global heat records has reached unprecedented levels in 2024, with a total of 15 national records shattered since January.
Maximiliano Herrera, a prominent climate historian, reveals that the frequency and intensity of these temperature extremes are surpassing historical precedents. His extensive archive documents not only these national highs but also 130 new monthly records and tens of thousands of local temperature peaks across the globe.
According to Herrera, the first six months of 2024 have been particularly alarming. “The frequency of extreme heat events this year is beyond anything previously seen,” he notes. “The period from February to July 2024 has set new records for every metric we track.”
This surge in heat records is particularly distressing given the recent El Niño phenomenon, which exacerbated global temperatures last year. Although El Niño has diminished since February, its retreat has failed to alleviate the escalating heat. Instead, records are falling even faster than they did during the latter part of 2023.
Global heat records are escalating, with 15 national records broken since January 2024.Local temperature records are being set daily, with thousands of monitoring stations reporting new extremes. A notable example occurred in late July, when China’s Yueyang region experienced an unprecedented nighttime low of 32°C, coupled with dangerously high humidity. Such high nighttime temperatures are particularly harmful as they prevent recovery from the day’s heat.
The geographic spread of new temperature records is striking. On June 7, Egypt reported a national high of 50.9°C at Aswan, while Chad matched its record of 48°C at Faya on June 5.
Earlier in the year, Ghana reached 44.6°C at Navrongo on May 1, and Laos hit 43.7°C at Tha Ngon. The tropical regions have consistently broken records, with new highs reported every day for the past 15 months.
The European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service recently highlighted that June marked the 13th consecutive month of record temperatures, with anomalies reaching 1.5°C above preindustrial levels. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) confirms that at least 10 countries have recorded temperatures above 50°C this year.
Carlo Buontempo of Copernicus warns of ongoing extreme temperatures: “Even if this streak of records ends, new highs are inevitable unless greenhouse gas emissions are significantly reduced.” The recent data also suggests that July 22 was the hottest day ever recorded globally, with an average surface temperature of 17.15°C.
Herrera emphasizes the importance of preparing for these extremes to mitigate their impact on lives, infrastructure, and ecosystems. “Extreme weather conditions put us all at risk, making it crucial to enhance our readiness and resilience,” he concludes.